There are several Runic alphabets, each being used in a particular time period or location, and include the Elder Futhark, the Younger Futhark, and the Anglo-Saxon Futhark. During the Viking Age, a bit before 800 CE, the Younger Futhark came into use and contained 16 runes, each representing one or more sounds.
While it was a system of writing, Runes were almost always used either as identification of personal belongings or markers of special locations, or they were used Magically. It was believed that each Rune held certain attributes or a power associated with the Runes origin and meaning.